Since kindergarten, Channen has been inspired by Maryknoll's motto of Noblesse Oblige — “to whom much is given, much is expected.”
In his senior year, Channen was looking to find a future that allowed him to pursue his passion for helping others.
“If you see someone struggling, you’re not just going to leave them there. You’re going to take them in, help them, and be a light for them,” Channen said.
Through community service opportunities at Maryknoll, he developed a strong sense of compassion and leadership. Hoping to study psychology to become a therapist for teens and adolescents, Channen wants to help others understand who they are and who they want to become.
Channen is fascinated by how people’s ideas have shaped the world and he enjoys studying literature and history. His own favorite forms of expression are writing and photography. He spent part of his summer in Europe for his senior project on the simple power of photojournalism. Through the lens of his Nikon camera, he sought to capture and share his understanding of different cultures and the moments where he witnessed Noblesse Oblige on the other side of the world.
“Giving yourself a voice also gives other people a voice that have similar interests or passions,” Channen said. “It’s important to be the best you that you can be, since nobody is else is going to be like you.”